folder 15: October–December 1852

[upper right corner] Allentown 12^th October 1852

My dearly beloved child

I wrote you on Sunday & gave you some account of our journey here - I do not think we have yet got over its fatigue I would give one of my old dresses if I could just sleep for 24 hours - It seems to be the fashion every where to set up late - & tho' [although] Mary King is exceedingly indulgent & never has breakfast until we are all ready - it is annoying to feel that we are trespassing on rules & hours even of a public house - much more so when staying at a friend[']s. Lord returned to N.Y. [New York] on Monday morning - but for Mary King - he would have lost his passage. I made him pack over night - she had his breakfast all ready for him at 1/2 past 6 - & yet when the stage came to the door at 7 he was not quite ready - so Mary told him to eat away whilst she went to the door & kept the driver in talk until he could take his cup of coffee &c [etc.]. She certainly could not be kinder --

We are all in hopes that Louisa & Andrew will come up with Lord on Thursday. If they do - & will go on to Washington from here - I have prom-ised your sisters they may go to Philadelphia for 3 days - Mary King will go with them - Lord Tip & myself will remain here until their return. If I went it would only be giving me a very fatiguing journey for no gratification. I hate moving - I would be employed in writing to your dear Father & Butler - & to yourself. I do not think even if your Father does intend to leave in Nov. that he will do so before the middle of that month. I have seen no public notice of his resignation & hardly know what to expect As much as I long to see him. I would rather he should remain until next spring than come without dear Butler. It is now too dark to write any more - so I will put by my letter until tomorrow. - The girls are not disposed to come to bed & as I shall not sleep until they do come I may as well continue my talk with you my pre-cious one - After tea 3 ladies & 2 gentlemen called - M^r Longnecker one of the latter. This day they Elect members of Congress in this state - but the Election is not held very near here so all the noise we do hear is from

from boy Whigs & Democrats, which is of course very discordant, especially when the cry is Pierce & King. I heard something which sounded like an in -vitation from Mrs Gregory - I hope I am mistaken - I do so dislike the tea drinking among strangers. A little while ago I received a letter from Mall & one also from dear Floyd - poor little fellow he deserves some credit for the attempt & it was very well. They were both well thank God. I had a letter also from M^r Bourke dated the 8^th in which he advises me not to return before the 1^st of October. November as Savannah was not healthy. I see by the papers that there is an -other Mail on its way from California up to the 16^th September As no mention is made of your dear Father I can but hope all is well. I hope to hear from him by Saturday or Monday next Mary King is only waiting the arrival of Andrew & Louisa to give us a tea party. I of course would rather she would not but I must let her have her own way. This evening Florence got a letter from Adele Picot - the ship she expected to sail in has arrived at New York - so I presume she is once more safe in this country. Florence is in ecstasies, & will be more anxious now than ever to visit Philadelphia. I will really be glad if they can go for a few days , & it is very kind in Mary King to go with them - for it is a ride I should dread. If the persons on whom your dear Father has given me a drafts will pay - I will be able to afford them the gratification. Dear Tootee how very expensive it is this paying for every breath you draw ----------

You would have been amused to see F V & Tip selling their old shoes - old shirts - & one old dress to a pedler today - Mary King added some old things to the budget - they got a scent bottle & an china ink stand, & were mightily pleased with their bargain. This is quite a custom here. These people bring glass & china ware & give them in exchange for old clothes &c [etc.]

I feel the want of your Monday letter - Now if I was at New Haven I would have had both of your dear letters by this time. God! grant you have been able to write those letters

We hear nothing more of the Grants. They certainly did not come in the Florida a week ago last Saturday, which was the ship Jinny wrote Florence they would come in. [obscured by ink blot] Henry & myself each have had a letter from M^r Woolley after his arrival in Savannah in neither of which he makes the least mention of the health of Savannah. I have not been out of the front door since I entered it in com -ing here. I had resolved to take exercise when I should get here but the last two days in New Haven created some corns which make it painful for me to walk at all. I will get the pills you recommend - for I need some thing of the kind, but for this difficulty I would be perfectly well. To think dearest that / God! willing / in 3 weeks from day after tomorrow we hope to be with you. God! grant this may be so, & that we may find you all well. What joy - what happiness - but still two loved ones will be wanting to complete our number & happiness - I very much fear your dear Father will not approve of my carrying Malley home - it will certainly be against his studies, but I think it will be keeping up his affection for family & home. He is a dear good boy.

I find there is no use my finishing this letter tonight as it cannot go before day after tomorrow - there being but one mail a day, & that goes off by day light in the morning - it is too late to send this down tonight - so it cannot need not be put into the office until tomor -row evening. Good night my darling Child -- 13^th Wednesday morning

We found it a real trial to get up this morning - it rained again last night - which made it much colder - When I awoke Tip - he said "I think it very strange that you let Lord sleep as long as he pleases & can't let me do the same". However after much ado did get them all up to break -fast. Oh! Tootee dear I wish I could go to sleep this night here in Allentown & awake tomorrow at home - Children - trunks & all. Why can we not get on to the wires of the Telegraph to Savannah." I do so dread this going to Sea. We are all pretty well - if to be judged by the breakfast we eat. Mary does give us such nice breakfasts - dinners & teas - I wish you dear William & the babies were here to enjoy them, every thing is done so quietly by Mary & her fat sorry dutch [sic] girl Sarah (who cooks & waits on table.) I am glad to find that Henry is looking so much better - I think a winter at the South would do him a great deal of good. I know that I can

entertain them as well - or make them as comfortable as they do us - but I would do my best - I think if we ever build a house it shall be after the plan of this one, it is so convenient & comfortable. The only thing wanted in this Town is society It is made up of Dutch [settlers?] [obscured by ink blot]. I do hope no difficulty may attend the collection of money for the drafts your dear Father sent me. I have enough to carry me home comfortably - but if I could get this money I could return at once the sum borrowed from Anderson. I wish more over that I could understand more of your dear Father's affairs - I very much fear he has not been more famous. But if his valuable life is preserved - we too how can we dare complain at the want of wealth? Look at Henry & Mary - Andrew & Louisa & at Stephen C. King - They all have wealth - but poor as I am - surely I am more blessed. My children all have their faults - but still they are jewels to me beyond prices.

I do long to hear the sweet voices of those darling babes to see your bright smile & hear dear William[']s voice. Oh my children may God! grant unto us a happy meeting. I doubt not the Island will appear dull to your sisters - but they will soon be reconciled to it - You say nothing of the piano I hope [Strassegger?] will not disappoint me in coming out to tune it. Your sisters['] instruction has cost us a great deal I paid $36 for their lessons in New Haven - But there is no use in looking back at the sums I paid then. I am thankful I was able to pay every bill ----------------

Georgia says she intends to write to you by this mail - & they see that I will write to you twice every week. They conclude that I tell you every thing which occurs so they think they have nothing new to tell you Lord says "God! bless the dear old lady had I written to her I would certainly have told her all about my affairs" I think I never saw L. look so beautiful as the last time I saw her. She is not fit for a poor man[']s wife tho'. Too delicate in constitution. For her sake I hope Lord will try to succeed in his profession. He has a fine mind, but his eyes will be an obstacle, they want rest & this he may not be able to afford. G. F. V. & Tip send thousands of love Mary & Henry send affectionate remembrances - Kiss those dear children for us all, & give warm - warm love to William for each of us - Rhina begs to be remembered - Say kind things to M^r D - and the servants for me - If Mrs Gale has returned the same to her - & now my darling I would say adieu to you for the present - Praying God! to bless you I am your devoted Mother AM King

[written in pencil, upper left corner] [Mr. W. A. Couper Frederica St. Simons Island, Ga]

[upper right corner] Marietta Thursday 14^th October 1852

My own dear William & Hannah,

What can I say my poor afflicted ones to you under your severe bereavement no comfort can man give unto you, but from God alone at such times can any relief come, Oh may he in his mercy comfort & give you resignation under so heartrending an affliction; you have truly our warmest, our sincerest sympathy, dear precious little Belle, she is now a happy angel in Heaven, no more pain no more sorrow. About the time she died we were all speaking of the darling child saying what a lovely one she was & how much more robust she was then [sic] any of the others, & the girls said they thought if you had a favorite that it was her but that they did not wonder at it, she was so interesting & loveable a little creature.

I too well my beloved Brother & Sister understand & feel for you having so often been obliged to drink deeply of that bitter cup, & what loss is greater then [sic] that of a child to a Parent. The yearning of the heart cannot be stilled & we feel truly as if a part of ourselves was taken away from us.

How providential it was that Amanda Wooley [sic] was at Hamilton Oh I was thankful to find